Nonplussed about Unpaired Words (or: a brief digression about problematic words, Euclidian geometry, and Sesame Street)

This bit of tangential thinking was forced upon me by the word “nonplussed.” Which reminds me (a tangent of a tangent—I should coin a word for this definition), of Sesame Street, a show that existed even when I was young, kids, only with more Big Bird and no Elmo. The show would always announce that […]

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Let’s Agree to Disagree

A conversation I may have had . . . “Let’s just agree to disagree,” Steve said. I shook my head. I’m certain my expression showed my disgust. “What?” Steve said. “What’s up with that look?” “‘Let’s just agree to disagree,’” I repeated. “When someone says that, what they mean is ‘I’m right, you’re wrong, and […]

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